Rotary toothbrush



Nov. 4 1924. 1,514,420

A. v. BIGWOOD ET AL ROTARY TOOTHBRUSH Filed Feb. 17 192] FIG. 6.

Patented Nov. 4, 1924.

ALBERT v. BIGWOOD, or SCOTIA, AND LOUIS KOZE-LEK, or scnnnnornnv, new roan.

ROTARY TOOTHBRUSH.

Application filed February 17, 1921. Serial No. 445,635.

To all whom it may omwem:

Be it known that we, ALBERT V. BIG- woon, a citizen of the United States of America, and (2) Louis Koznnnn, a citizen of Czechoslovakia, residing at (1) Scotia and 2) Schenectady, in the county of Schenectady and Stateof New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rotary 'loothbrushes, of which the following .is a specification:

This invention relates to a certain new and useful improvements in rotary tooth brushes and the principal object of the invention is to provide a brush of this kind in which the brush element per se is specifically formed to snugly engage the face of the teeth for efiiciently cleaning the same when the brush is rotated, the brush being provided with a shank operable for rotating it.

A further object of the invention is to provide the shank with a sleeve adapted to be grasped between the fingers of the user so as to effectively support the brush while it is rotated, the shank being rotatable in the sleeve.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a novel rotatable brush including a brush member and a two-part shank, with quick detachable means for connectin the parts of the shank, whereby various orms of brushes or new ones may be utilized from time to time.

Further objects will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, and the same consists in the novel form, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accompanying drawing and claimed.

In the drawing wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views,

Figure 1 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in longitudinal section of one form of tooth brush constructed in accordance with the present invention,

placed upon the outer end of a strai shank 6 having its opposite end portion enlarged and of angular form as at 7, said shank projecting axially from the brush element 5. A sleeve 9 is loosely positioned upon the intermediate portion of the shank 6 so as to be longitudinally movable'thereon, the shank also being revoluble within said sleeve.

In the operation of this form of the in vention, the sleeve 9 is grasped by the operator in one hand so as to support the brush element 5 properly with relation to the teeth, and the operator then rotates the shank 6 by proper manipulation of the angular portion 7 with the other end. The sleeve 9 may be moved toward or away from the brush element 5 as the requirements suggest formost conveniently using the invention. I

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 7 inclusive, the brush element 5 is provided with the axial shank part or section 6' and is of the same form as described with respect to the brush element 5 in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive. The free end of the shank section 6' is formed with a head 10 adapted for detachable reception within a spring socket 11 provided on one end of a further shank section 12, whereby the shank sections 6 and 12 are effectively connected in longitudinal alinement so that when one is rotated the other will rotate therewith, and at the same time permit the detachment of these parts for the renewal of the brush elementsfrom time to time as found necessary or for employing brush elements of different kinds, which may be furnished. The shank section 12 is swiveled at its outer end as at 13 in a knob or hand grip 14, and it is also provided with reverse quick threads or grooves 15 which intersect and which are engaged by the inwardly projecting end of a pin 16 which projects into the bore of a sleeve 17 The sleeve 17 is longitudinally movable on the shank 7 section 12, and the latter is rotatable in said I sleeve, while the pin 16 is detachably carried by the sleeve 17 as shown in Fig. 7.

In the operation of this form of the. invention, the sleeve 17 is substantially uniformly reoiprocated or given a uniform rectilinear motion and through the construction described, this motion is utilized to give a substantially uniform rotary motion of the parts 12, 6 and 5. This is done by grasping of the knob 14: in one hand and reciprocating the sleeve 17 with the other.

From the foregoing description it is believed that the construction and operation of the present invention will be readily uI1- derstood and the advantages thereof appreciated by one skilled in the art.

What is claimed as new is In a rotary brush of the type described, a cylindrical brush member, a shank carried by said brush and axially alined therewith, a head formed upon the free end of the shank, a second shank having a pair of thread grooves arranged in reverse directious and intersecting at spaced points,-

aresilientsocket formed on one end of the second shank for receiving said head with both shanks axially alined and connected so that when one is rotated the other will rotate therewith, the said head and resilient socket being axially alined with both shanks, a handle loosely mounted upon the second shank, and a sleeve slidably mounted on this second shank and a pin projecting inwardly from the sleeve to engage with said grooves to cause rotation of the brush member, said pin being shiftable by rotative movement of the sleeve from one glOOX'G to the other at any point of intersection of said grooves.-

In testimony whereof We aflix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

ALBERT V. BIG'WOOD. LOUIS KOZELEK. WVitnesses.

GEORGE H. ILLE. FRANK RIDINGS. 

